Major successes by Army, BSF
7 militants gunned down in Gandoh, Kalakote

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 24: Army and Border Security Force (BSF) today gunned down seven foreign mercenaries—six at Gandoh (Doda) and one at Keri forests in Kalakote tehsil of Rajouri district.

According to official sources, army troops stormed a hideout of the militants at Lakhandhar in Gandoh tehsil of Doda district this evening after developing an information about the presence of militants.

While the troops were surrounding the hideout, they were fired upon by the militants from inside the hideout. Army jawans retaliated with restraint since the hideout was located in a populated area.

The encounter continued for one and a half hour in which the militants’ hideout was blown up. Six dreaded militants were killed inside the hideout. There was no loss of life on army side in the gun-battle, which was still going on as reports indicated the presence of some more militants in the adjoining area.

Bodies of all six slain militants have been recovered but not identified. All of them were foreign mercenaries. Recovery of some documents indicated that they were activists of Harkat-ul-Jehad Islami (HUJI) outfit.

Five assault rifles and a huge quantity of weaponry have been recovered from the encounter site.

Sources said more reinforcement has been dispatched to the spot to continue searches for more hiding militants in the area.

Meanwhile, the Border Security Force (BSF) today gunned down a Lashkar-e-Toiba (LET) activist in Keri forest area of Kalakote tehsil. The slain militant had escaped during an earlier operation by the BSF in an adjoining area.

He has been identified as Abu Saraka, an Afghan national.

BSF sources said the security personnel were hunting three militants, who had escaped from their hideout during a raid conducted by the BSF on Wednesday night in an area adjoining to Keri forests. During the hunt, the BSF personnel came across a group of militants in Keri forests.

An encounter took place between the two sides which continued for more than 40 minutes. Heavy fire arms were used by both the sides during the gun-battle.

BSF jawans gunned down one militant in the encounter. There were reports that atleast two militants had managed to escape during the encounter.

Recovery made from the spot include one AK-46 rifle, one pistol, four assorted magazines, 126 ammunition rounds, one hand grenade, 10 rifle grenades, one grenade launcher, one binocular and one wireless set.

SOG party attacked in Sopore; encounters in Budgam, Anantnag
CRPF Inspector, 5 militants among 8 killed in Valley

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec. 24: One Inspector of CRPF got killed and two soldiers injured when militants attacked a party of Special Operations Group (SOG) Baramulla near Sopore, this evening. In other militancy-related incidents across Kashmir valley since last evening, two militants got killed in an encounter with security forces in Dooru locality of Anantnag district, at least three militants and and an ITBP jawan got killed in another encounter near Magam in Budgam district while as one civilian got killed and four others injured with militants launched a grenade attack on security forces at Sumbal in Baramulla district.

Official sources told EXCELSIOR that militants ambushed a party of SOG Baramulla at a spot between Lalad and Amargarh in outskirts of Sopore, when it was on way to a Sopore locality to conduct a search operation, at 7.30 p.m. this evening. The initial grenade attack left Inspector Dayal Singh of CRPF 10 Bn killed and a constable critically injured. He was rushed to a Srinagar hospital. A BSF soldier got injured when troops of BSF 21 Bn rushed to the spot for the rescue operation. The SOG party retaliated but all the militants managed to escape in the vast expanse of apple orchards. A subsequent search operation by Police and paramilitary troops yielded nothing.

Earlier, this afternoon, militants lobbed a hand grenade on a patrol of security forces at the main market of Sumbal, in Baramulla district. The blast failed to harm the intended target but killed a civilian, namely Amir-ud-Din Wani S/o Ghulam Mohammad Wani, resident of the nearby village of Inderkoot. Four civilian got injured who were identified as Meraj-ud-Din Gujri, Lateed Ahmed Khanday, Abdul Majeed Wani and Haseena wife of Abdur Rasheed.

This afternoon, ITBP 04 Bn launched a cordon-and-search operation at Batpora Kanihama, near Magam, in Budgam district. Later on, reinforcements of Rashtriya Rifles 34 Bn rushed to the spot from Beerwah and a fierce encounter took place between the militants and the security forces. Two residential houses were destroyed in the gunbattle as 3 unidentified militants got killed. Exchange of fire subsided in the evening but residents were sure that all the 5 militants - who were present at the village as per the tip-off - got killed.

Troops recovered three dead bodies of militants and an equal number of AK-56 rifles from the devastated house of Master Ghulam Hassan Magray. Search was on for the dead bodies of two more militants, who were believed to have been charred to death. Residents insisted that an ITBP constable also got killed in the counter but it was not confirmed by officials. A civilian, namely, Mohammad Yusuf Mir of the same village was reported injured.

Reports available from south Kashmir said that two militants of Harkat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami got killed today in a 4-hour-long encounter with security forces at Rishipora Kapran in Dooru locality of Anantnag district. They were identified as Abdul Hameed Bhat S/o Bashir Ahmed Bhat, resident of Drajan, Dhanau Kandimarg (Kulgam) and a Pakistani national, namely, Manzoor Bhai. Two AK-56 rifles and one wireless set were claimed to have been recovered in badly damaged condition. During the fierce gunbattle, at least 10 residential houses gutted in fire.

Troops of Rashtriya Rifles 09 Bn, ITBP and Police participated in the operation which was launched on the basis of a specific information. Officials claimed that the same group of militants had earlier this month made an abortive attempt to kidnap the National Conference block president Syed Mansoor from Halsidhar village.

Reports from Tangmarg said that some security forces personnel raided the house of one Mohammad Sultan Sheikh S/o Alaf-ud-Din Sheikh at Mahen near Drung during last night and committed acts of molestation on his daughters. Inmates raised commotion and foiled the nefarious designs of the intruders but still they kidnapped the house-owner. Unconfirmed reports said that Police swung into action and with the help of dropped head-gear they identified the intruders as men from an Army camp.

PM kicks off NDA poll campaign

PATNA, Dec 24: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today virtually kicked off National Democratic Alliance’s election campaign for the forthcoming Assembly polls in Bihar with an appeal to the people to vote the right Government and announced sanction-ing of schemes involving Rs 26,000 crore for the state.

After five years, Bihar will not remain a backward state. This is our pledge for the new century ... But then there has to be the right Government ... Installed through elections ... Through ballots and not bullets, he told a Nav Nirman rally of BJP here.

Claiming that most of the Central assistance to Bihar remained unutilised or under-utilised, he promised to put the state on the path of progress and said that to change the face of the country, Bihar had to be given a special treatment.

Referring to crises of essential commodities in the state, particularly kerosene oil, he said, such local matters should be dealt with at the local level for which there has to be the right Government.

The Prime Minister said there was no chance of the country returning to single party rule in the near future and extolled the benefits of a coalition Government for proper governance.

He criticised Congress for its insatiable urge to be in Government and said the party would not be able to return to power.

He said the State Government should adopt a tough stand to stop the extremist attacks.

Twelve people were killed and a Railway station was blown up in the state in the last 48 hours.

"The State Government should initiate effective steps to stop the current phase of extremist attacks on Railway property and the killing of innocent people", he said.

Mr Vajpayee said violence was not acceptable in the society and hoped that only development could bring an end to it.

He said that considering the backwardness of the state most of the important departments in the Union Cabinet like agriculture, water resources, civil aviation, telecommunication and others were allotted to the representatives of the state.

He said Bihar had initiated several movements and exhorted the people to launch a fresh movement for changing the face of the state.

Referring to the Bofors issue, Mr Vajpayee said as all the relevant documents had now been received, anyone involved in the matter would not be spared. He reiterated that there would be no politics in dealing with the matter.

Mr Vajpayee said after huge investment in Bokaro several years back the Centre had again proposed to invest in the state with an objective to eradicate backwardness and provide a fresh momentum to the State’s development.

He said besides two major power projects of 2000 mw, being constructed at Barh and Tundwa, each at an expenditure of Rs 8000 crores, a major Railway project worth Rs 2000 crores would improve the Koderma-Ranchi and Koderma-Giridih areas. He said the ordnance factory at Rajgir with an investment of about Rs 4000 crores was expected to provide a fillip to the state’s socio-economic development.

Mr Vajpayee hoped that the Koel-Karo Power Project with an investment of nearly Rs 2386 crores and the Power Grid’s Rs 9600 crores which have been sanctioned by the Centre would solve the state’s power problems.

About the annual flood problem in the northern districts of the state, he said the Centre had sanctioned Rs 50 crores for controlling the water of river Kosi, known as the ‘sorrow of north Bihar’.

The Prime Minister assured the people that all the major projects for the state would be completed within the stipulated period. Lamenting at the ‘dilly-dally’ attitude of the Bihar Government in releasing its matching share for several joint schemes with the Centre, he said it was impossible to execute the developmental schemes in the absence of the state’s matching share.

The Prime Minister criticised the State Government for "several irregularities" in the implementation of schemes like the Red Card and distribution of foodgrain and kerosene. He said it was unfortunate that the poor were forced to pay bribes and grease the palm of the authorities to get their genuine Red Cards.

Referring to the kerosene crisis in the state, he said the Centre had provided the required quantity and the shortage was due to its poor distribution.

Coming down heavily on the performance of the State Government, Mr Vajpayee said it should be changed since it had failed to function properly and appealed to the people to change the Government through "ballot and not bullet".

Reiterating his committment to eradicate poverty from the state he said Bihar had the highest below the poverty line population compared to the other states. The state’s deteriorating law and order situation had driven away prospective investors resulting in the state’s economic backwardness, he said. (PTI/UNI)

Massive operation launched
6 Afghan mercenaries sighted in Pallanwalla

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 24: A group of Afghan mercenaries have managed to successfully infiltrate to upper reaches of Udhampur through Chinote forest area after infiltration from Pallanwalla area in Chhamb sector. A massive operation, carried out jointly by Army, BSF and local police to track down the infiltrators, didn’t yield any result.

Official sources said local people living around Chinote forests informed troops that they had sighted five to six bearded militants moving in the area. The militants were carrying arms and ammunition with them.

Immediately after getting the report, army, BSF and police personnel launched a massive search and combing operations in the forests. During start of the operation, troops recovered five live rounds of AK-47 rifle which confirmed people’s report regarding militants’ movement in the area.

The operation, which was laun-ched from Pallanwalla culminated in Reasi forests but the militants remained untraced. The operation continued for two full days, the sources said.

They said it appeared that militants had managed to escape through the forests and reached upper reaches of Udhampur successfully. As per the description given by the people, the militants were foreign mercenaries mainly the Afghan nationals.

Though operation didn’t bring any success, sources said, it resulted into discovery of a new infiltration route of Pakistan-sponsored militants. Using this particular route, the militants could reach Mahore, Budhal, Gool and even Doda district.

A strategy was being devised by the security forces to plug the infiltration route, they added.

Narrow escape for devotees
Grenade explodes in militant’s hands

Excelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Dec 24: A militant was seriously injured when a grenade, he was about to throw on people returning after Friday prayers, blew up in his own hands outside a Mosque at Banihal town in Doda district this afternoon.

Identified as Mohd Rafiq son of Ghulam Rasool, a resident of Pirhar Khari in Banihal, the militant was standing few yards away from the Mosque, police said, adding he tried to lob grenade on the people as soon as they started coming out after Friday prayers.

However, as the luck would have it, the grenade went off in militant’s hands causing him serious injuries. Both hands of the militant were badly injured in the blast. There was no casualty on civilians side.’

Despite being injured, the militant made a determined attempt to escape from the spot. However, local people chased the militant and apprehended him. He was handed over to a local police party, which whisked him away to a hospital.

Militant has been kept under arrest in a hospital, where he was being treated. His condition was stated to be stable. Police said Mohd Rafiq was an activist of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit.

Meanwhile, militants attacked the house of Daya Ram son of Munsukh Ram Thakur at Gundhara in Doda last night when a religious function was going on there. Militants dragged out one invitee Girdhari Lal son of Tej Ram of Muthi Marmat and took him to a separate room where he was shot dead after sometime.

Militants escaped after the killing.

Another civilian Sunjee Gujjar son of Chirya Gujjar, a resident of Pallar was killed in cross firing between 31 Rashtriya Rifles and militants at Bhadar Dhar Cherjee forests under the jurisdiction of Kishtwar police station.

45 injured in 2 bus mishaps at Kathua

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, Dec 24: Forty-five persons were injured, six of them seriously, in two bus accidents at Basohli and Billawar tehsils of this district this morning.

Police said a bus No. 0415 JK02E on way from Kathua to Basohli skidded off the road at Thein Dam and rolled down 60 feet deep into a nullah. However, the bus hanged between the tree and didn’t go down further into the nullah, averting a major tragedy.

Local people rushed to the accident site and launched a rescue operation. In the meantime, local police personnel also reached the spot and shifted the victims to sub district hospital in Basohli.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Kathua Mr O P Kalandria, ARTO Lakhanpur R Sahni and SHO Mr Dalip Singh visited the site of accident. Later, all the injured were brought to district hospital where condition of six of them was stated to be serious. Driver of the bus was among the injured.

Social Welfare Minister Mr Bashir Ahmed Kitchloo, who was camping in Kathua, also visited the district hospital and inquired the condition of injured. He directed the hospital authorities to provide full medicare to the accident victims.

This was second bus accident in Basohli tehsil during last one and a half month. The first bus accident on November 6 took place at Jandrali in which 54 persons were killed.

Meanwhile, 15 persons were injured when another bus No. 5008 JK02H met with an accident at Thara-Kalwal in Billawar tehsil. The injured were hospitalised at Billawar. All of them were responding to treatment.

Billawar police have registered a case in the accident. The bus has been seized by the police and driver taken into custody for questioning.

Work in offices remain paralysed
Govt-EJAC to hold talks today

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 24: Working in all Government offices, educational institutions and Civil Secretariat remained paralysed as Kam Chhor hartal of the State Government employees today entered into fifth day.

However, Chief Secretary, Mr Ashok Jaitly has fixed a meeting with the representatives of the All J&K Government Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC), spearheading the agitation, to break the deadlock. The meeting will be held tomorrow afternoon.

Functioning in all the Government offices remained crippled for the fifth successive day today as majority of all employees observed Kam Chhor Hartal to force the State Government to accept their demands.

Worst affected were the functio-ning of the Government Medical College and associated hospitals. Though doctors have been making efforts to provide medical services to the patients but later continued to desert the hospital due to non-availability of para-medical staff.

Secretariat wore a deserted look today as not a single room was opened in the Civil Secretariat premises. Even Ministers and senior IAS officers opened their rooms themselves.

Employees of the Civil Secretariat including Legislative Assembly, Council and State Motor Garages organised a massive demonstration in their premises. Shouting anti-Government slogans, employees demanded release of the two DA installment due in January and July this year, release of the arrears of the 5th Pay Commission, reorganisation of the Civil Secretariat cadre, restoration of the SRO-43 and Special Pay, raising of the retirement age from 58 to 60 besides charter of demands presented to the Government by the J&K Joint Action Committee. The leaders who addressed the gathering included Mr Nazir Ahmed Mir, Mohammed Shafi Khan, M H Reshi, A A Najar, Ram Dass, Anil Bhushan Zalpuri, Mohammed Rafiq, Abdul Rashid, Durga Dass, Abdul Rehman Magrey, Ghulam Mehidi, Chand Jee Bhat, Hussain Khan, Niaz Ahmed Qadri, Shabir Ahmed Baba, Altaf Hussain, Farooq Ahmed and others.

In the City striking employees held massive demonstrations at PHE office, J&K Art and Cultural Academy, G G M Science College, Commerce College, Government Engineering College, B.Ed College and Social Forestry Department.

Mr Rakesh Bhan and Bansi Lal, Tirath Singh, Sham Lal, Girdhari Lal, Birbal Janotra and Mohammed Maqbool addressed the employees and asked the State Goverment to immediately accept their demands.

There are reports that EJAC leaders have been seriously thinking to exempt health service from the on-going strike as poor people have been facing lots of hardship due to strike in the hospitals. Though no final decision has been taken on this regard but majority of the employees, have reportedly, urged the EJAC to exempt health services from strike.

Talking to EXCELSIOR, promi-ent leader of the EJAC and general secretary of the J&K Civil Secretariat (Non-Gazetted ) Employees Union, Mr Mohammed Shafi Khan, asserted that they would make every possible effort to take the on-going agitation to a favourable conclusion.

While stressing on their demands, have expressed their regrets over the hardships being faced by the general masses due to the on-going agitation. "Financial conditions of the State are not so bad as projected by the State Government. Financial crunch has been deliberately created by the ruling elites to deny dues to the poor employees, who are back bone for the functioning of the Government. If the conditions are so bad, Government should cut down expenditure on the luxuries of the Ministers and bureaucrats. Instead of keeping a check on the wanton misuse of public exchequer, State Government has been tightening belt of the poor employees", he said.

He said after 1977 agreement with late Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah, the then Chief Minister of the State, it was obligatory on part of the State Govern-ment to give Dearness Allowance (DA) to its employees at par with the Central Government employees.

However, Chief Secretary, Mr Ashok Jaitly has decided to convene a meeting of the EJAC leaders to solve the stalemate.

Reports said that Mr J A Khan (Principal Secretary) (P), Mr Ajit Kumar (Principal Secretary) Finance, Mr A R Parry (Revenue Secretary), Ms Sushama Chowdhary (Principal Secretary Education) and Mr Naveed Masood (Commissioner/ Secretary GAD) will represent the Government in the meeting which is scheduled to be held in the office chamber of Mr J A Khan tomarrow at 12 noon.

All J&K Low Paid Employees Federation, All J&K Government Draftsmen Asociation have supported employees agitation.

Mr Mohammed Dilawar Mir, a former Minister and sitting MLA has also urged the State Government to accept genuine demands of the employees.

Hijacked plane lands near Abu Dhabi

NEW DELHI, Dec 24: The hijacked Indian Airlines plane carrying 189 people landed at an airbase near Abu Dhabi at 0135 hrs IST.

Civil Aviation Secretary Ravindra Gupta said the plane apparently landed for refuelling. (PTI)

Prof Sharma given two-year extension as JU VC

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 24: The Jammu University Chancellor and Governor, Mr Girish Chander Saxena has approved the extension of Prof R R Shama as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jammu for two more years.

This was stated by Dr Pritam Singh, Director Information and Public Relations, Jammu University.

The order dated December 22 which reached the University today read the Governor was pleased to re-appoint, Prof R R Sharma as Vice-Chancellor of the Jammu University for a period of two years with effect from December 24, 1999.

It may be recalled that the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah had announced an extension of five-year to Prof Sharma in a function held in the University.

India suspends flights to Kathmandu

NEW DELHI, Dec 24: India has decided to suspend flights to Kathmandu following today’s hijacking of a Delhi-bound Indian Airlines flight.

We have decided to suspend flights to Kathmandu till we can reassure ourselves of the security arrangements there, Civil Aviation secretary Ravindra Gupta told PTI. (PTI)

Tension in Arnia

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 24: Tension gripped border village of Arnia this afternoon when agitated people tried to resist a police attempt to enforce stay on a disputed land.

Police said a police party from Arnia police station went to execute a stay order of the Court. However, local people resisted the police attempt and held a demonstration. Some of them also tried to pelt stones on the police.

Sensing the situation, the police party retrieved from the spot and order was restored in the village.

 

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